Earring



Dec. 25, 1945. "L, C, MARK 2,391,635

EARRING A Fi'led Jan. 29, 1945 r f I Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARRING Louis C. Mark, Cranston, R. I.

Application January 29, 1943, Serial No. 473,935

l Claim.

My present invention relates to the jewelry art and has particular reference to a novel construction of earring.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an earring having a spring snap retaining member which will retain its resiliency for a considerable period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an earring which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully described in the detailed description following, and more particularly defined in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of an earring embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spring tongue;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the hinge piece;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the earring with the closure snap in closed position; and

Fig. 5 is a similar View in open position.

In the manufacture of earrings of the nonpiercing type, it is necessary to provide a snap or spring jaw of suficient resilient tension to hold the earring on the ear. Many of the devices now inuse have a tendency to lose their resiliency after a period of use. designed to overcome this diculty and to provide a device which is simple and easy to manufacture and assemble and which will retain its strong spring action indenitely.

Referring more in detail to the drawing illustrating my invention, I have shown an earring I9 having an ornamental portion II in the form of an L-shaped shank I2, setting I3, and ornamental pearl I4. Any type of ornament may be employed, and the construction of the ornamental portion may be varied to suit the requirements for different earrings.

To retain the earring on the ear, I provide the inner or rear leg of the L-shaped shank I2 with The present invention is an integral looped portion I5 which forms a bearing for the hinge pin IB extending therethrough. A hinged member I1, Fig. 3, is provided at one end with ears I8 having journal openings to receive the pin I6. The member I'I is generally rectangular in shape, ilaring outwardly towards its free end I9, which is angularly bent, so that in locking position, Figs. 1 and 4, its edge will bear against the rear of the ornamental position (or the inserted ear). A spring tongue 20, Fig. 2, having a tapered shank 2| and a reentrantly bent end 22, is positioned over the member I'I as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The reentrantly bent portion 22 is slipped over the bent end I9 of the member Il and pinched thereon.

In this position, the shank 2| of the spring tongue bears against the edge 23 of the member I2. The edge 23 acts as a cam edge, and the members I'I and I2 are resiliently retained in the closed, Fig. 4, and open, Fig. 5, positions thereby, swinging from one to the other with a snap action.

By making the tongue 20'of a separate piece, its resiliency can be increased by the use of a heavier spring metal, the pinched end adding to the resiliency and its life.

While I have described a specific constructional embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes may be made in the size, shape, and relative arrangement of parts, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An earring comprising an ornamental portion having a loop, a pivot pin extending through said loop, a pivot member having ears pivoted on said pin, the free end of said pivot member` being angularly bent, and a spring tongue positioned over said pivot member, said spring tongue having a reentrantly bent end pinched over the angularly bent end of said pivot member, and said spring tongue having a shank portion bearing against the loop portion to provide a resilient snap action.

LOUIS C. MARK. 

